How different technologies can fit nursing processes to empower staff and increase quality of care. An Italian case study.

A radiation image signal, which has been obtained by reading out a radiation image having been recorded by use of an irradiation field stop and having an irradiation field thereon, is thinned out at a predetermined rate, and a thinned-out image signal is thereby obtained. The shape and location of the irradiation field are determined in accordance with the thinned-out image signal, and a range of a blackening process is set in accordance with the results of the determination. A blackening process is carried out on the thinned-out image signal with respect to the set blackening process range, and a visible image is reproduced from the thinned-out image signal., which has been obtained from the blackening process. The blackening process range is corrected in accordance with the visible image reproduced from the thinned-out image signal, which has been obtained from the blackening process. The blackening process is then carried out on the radiation image signal and in accordance with the set blackening process range or the corrected blackening process range.